Barbara A. Piasecki, James D. Lewis, K. Rajender Reddy, Scarlett L. Bellamy, Steven B. Porter, Robert M. Weinrieb, Donald D. Stieritz, Kyong‐Mi Chang – 7 March 2007 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spontaneously cleared in 15% to 45% of individuals during primary infection. To define the role of alcohol, race, and HBV or HIV coinfections in natural HCV clearance, we examined these parameters in 203 spontaneously HCV‐recovered subjects (HCV Ab+/RNA‐ subjects without prior antiviral therapy) and 293 chronically HCV‐infected patients (HCV Ab+/RNA+).

Florence Komurian‐Pradel, Alain Rajoharison, Jean‐Luc Berland, Valérie Khouri, Magali Perret, Mark Van Roosmalen, Stanislas Pol, Francesco Negro, Glaucia Paranhos‐Baccalà – 7 March 2007 – The hepatitis C virus (HCV) F protein is a recently described, frameshift product of HCV core encoding sequence of genotype 1a. Its function and antigenic properties are unknown. Using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, we assessed the prevalence of anti‐F antibodies in 154 patients chronically infected with HCV, 65 patients with other liver diseases, and 121 healthy controls.

Shunlin Ren, Phillip B. Hylemon, Dalila Marques, Emily Gurley, Patricia Bodhan, Elizabeth Hall, Kaye Redford, Gregorio Gil, William M. Pandak M.D. – 7 March 2007 – Bile acid synthesis (BAS) occurs mainly via two pathways: the “neutral” pathway, which is initiated by highly regulated microsomal CYP7A1, and an “acidic” pathway, which is initiated by mitochondrial CYP27A1.

Massimo Pilli, Amalia Penna, Alessandro Zerbini, Paolo Vescovi, Maddalena Manfredi, Francesco Negro, Marco Carrozzo, Cristina Mori, Tiziana Giuberti, Carlo Ferrari, Gabriele Missale – 7 March 2007 – Hepatitis C virus infection can be associated with different extrahepatic manifestations, including lichen planus; however, no clear role for HCV in their pathogenesis has been established. T cells were isolated from lichen biopsy specimens of 7 HCV positive patients with oral lichen planus.

Miguel E. Sewnath, Tom Van Der Poll, Cornelis J. F. Van Noorden, Fiebo J. W. Ten Kate, Dirk J. Gouma – 7 March 2007 – Cholestatic patients suffer from high perioperative morbidity and mortality, but the pathophysiology is still unknown. Interferon γ (IFN‐γ) may play a role during cholestasis. Therefore, bile duct ligation (BDL) was induced in IFN‐γ α‐chain receptor—deficient (IFN‐γR1—/—) and wild‐type (IFN‐γR1+/+) mice. BDL elicited increased IFN‐γ messenger RNA and protein levels in the liver.

Vincent Leroy, Ines Vigan, Jean‐Francois Mosnier, Tania Dufeu‐Duchesne, Martine Pernollet, Jean‐Pierre Zarski, Patrice N. Marche, Evelyne Jouvin‐Marche – 7 March 2007 – The pathogenesis of liver cell injury during chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is poorly understood. The cellular immune response is thought to play a key role in both inhibition of viral replication and liver pathology. However, little is currently known about which lymphocyte populations and which immune effectors contribute to or control liver damage.

Christine Rollier, Joost A. R. Drexhage, Babs E. Verstrepen, Ernst J. Verschoor, Ronald E. Bontrop, Gerrit Koopman, Jonathan L. Heeney – 7 March 2007 – Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in humans is associated with an impairment of dendritic cells (DC). It has been hypothesized that impairment of DC function may be a central mechanism facilitating the establishment of a chronic carrier state.

Brent A. Neuschwander‐Tetri, Elizabeth M. Brunt, Kent R. Wehmeier, Dana Oliver, Bruce R. Bacon – 7 March 2007 – Insulin resistance (IR) commonly is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). To establish whether IR causes NASH, this study was undertaken to determine if improving IR would improve the histologic features that define NASH. Thirty adults with prior biopsy evidence of NASH were enrolled to receive rosiglitazone, 4 mg twice daily for 48 weeks.

Ruth F. Itzhaki, William L. Irving, Matthew A. Wozniak – 7 March 2007

Jay H. Hoofnagle – 7 March 2007